Case Name

Higashi Sumiyoshi Case

Mark Kirk Case

Defendants

Tatsuhiro Boku(29)m

Keiko Aoki(30)f

Mark Kirk (35)m

Date of Fire

Location

July 22, 1995

Higashi Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka 

Dec 3, 1996

Newark, DE

Victims 

Megumi Aoki (11) f

Steve Rivera 44 

Frances 17(f)  Robert 8

Suspicions

1) Common Law Marriage

2) Life Insurance $120,000

3) Korean nationality

1) evening argument 

2) short relationship

Confession Date + Details

Sept 10, 1995

Siphoning and igniting gasoline with a tab lighter

Dec 5, 1996

Pouring Captain Morgan Rum on an electric burner

Arrest Motives

compile track records/personal publicity/ racial discrimination 

compile track records

Protect apt owner/insurance companies

Other Problems

Japan 99.7%  conviction rate

Lawyers presumed guilt, failed to investigate properly.

Court Decisions

Life Imprisonment x2

Boku: March '99(District Court) Dec '04 (High Court)

Aoki; May '99(District Court) Oct '04 (High Court)

Oct 97:Three Life Terms+

Feb 04: Felony murder convictions vacated, replaced with manslaughter(44years)

Present Support Activities

Both defendants are represented by 6 different attorneys working pro-bono; and 2 citizen support associations.

Not represented, working pro se

Recent Developments

10/'06 Visit of American professional fire Investigator.

05/'06 TV Broadcast "The Scoop." 

03/2012 Osaka District Court reopens case!

06/'06 Forensic Analyst John Lentini performs experiment.

Solutions

Reopening of case by court indicates that a reversal is near.

Publicity/Empowerment (lawyer needed)